Green Line Groundbreaking

July 02, 2018

It’s happening! After years of uncertainty about the future MBTA commuter rail line extension, officials broke ground on the 4.7-mile Green Line Extension (GLX) project outside of Boston, MA. Balfour Beatty is a joint venture member of the GLX Constructors team responsible for the design and construction of the $1.08 billion rail project. The joint venture includes Fluor Enterprises, The Middlesex Corp. and Herzog Contracting Corp.

The GLX project represents the MBTA’s largest construction contract to date. The project will add seven new stations through the cities of Somerville and Medford and 4.7-miles to the commuter rail line. Balfour Beatty is responsible for all track, systems and tie-in to the existing line. In addition, the team is designing and building station platform canopies, additional elevators at select stations and an enhanced vehicle maintenance facility in Somerville. The completed project will incorporate public artwork and new community connectivity paths throughout the area. It also includes a fleet of 24 new train cars, which will start operating on the line as early as 2019.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and other state and local officials celebrated the groundbreaking milestone at the future Union Square station site in Somerville. At the event Chao announced the release of $225 million in federal funding, representing the second installment of federal support for the GLX. The project will receive approximately $996 million in federal funding with additional support from the cities of Somerville and Cambridge along the new alignment.

"The Green Line Extension will improve access to education, housing and job opportunities across the entire MTBA system," said Governor Charlie Baker. "Our administration is grateful for the collaboration and support we have received from Secretary Chao and all partners at the federal, state and local level to reach this milestone and begin a project that will have a transformational impact on this region of the Commonwealth by accommodating riders and spurring economic growth."

The extended commuter option will allow passengers to travel from the northern Boston area directly to downtown Boston without a bus transfer. The GLX is expected to reduce daily vehicle miles traveled by over 25,000, improving air quality and reducing automobile congestion.

"Today's groundbreaking signifies an important milestone for this project – and for the region," Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone said. "With construction officially underway, the transportation, environmental and economic benefits the completed Green Line Extension will bring to our communities are within our reach."

The GLX Constructors team is currently completing design work for the extension with heavy construction work scheduled for later this year. The Green Line Extension is expected to open for revenue service in 2021.

For more information about the Green Line Extension project, visit here.